THEATER REVIEW : The Goods Are Fresh in ‘Little Shop’

The most important ingredient in any production of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s “Little Shop of Horrors” is its star, Audrey II, the plant that thrives on humans.

In the case of Yorba Linda Civic Light Opera’s production, Audrey II has been provided by Eckmann Stage and Technical, which also supplied the set. Some of Audrey’s workings are a little too obvious (Edward Huber’s lighting insists on brightly revealing its innards), but its personality is fresh and often funny as embodied in the voice of Charles Coffey and in the realistic manipulative fancies of puppeteers Daniel Rust and Cherylrenee Rendes.

Based on the 1960 cult classic film by Roger Corman (in which the overacting by a young Jack Nicholson is a hoot), “Little Shop” also provides caricature roles for inventive actors and singers. Under Tim Klega’s bouncy direction, Rob Blaney’s brisk musical guidance and with Joshua Eklund’s stereotypical 1950s choreography, this company stays within the bounds of the material and even gives it a few shots in the arm.

This isn’t a show that requires any subtext from an actor, only originality and musical-comedy pizazz. Both qualities blossom in the performances of Tim Kashani as Seymour Krelbourn, the geek who found the ravenous plant to begin with, and Gretchen Weiss as the plant’s namesake, Audrey, who works with Seymour in the Skid Row florist shop run by Mr. Mushnik.

Kashani, by making Seymour a bit more intelligent than the hopeless guy he usually is, and Weiss, by combining Marilyn Monroe with Betty Boop and adding a sure comic touch, fill in enough of the gaps in the writing to create characters that one can really care about. Their individual vocal qualities, unique-sounding and sure, bring their numbers a new sheen, particularly their powerful reading of their hesitant love duet, “Suddenly Seymour.”

The supporting cast is pretty standard, but with the right bright edge for this show.

Mike Reynolds’ Mushnik blusters and kvetches well; Alex Lepera’s leather-jacketed sadistic dentist sneers and Elvises in fine style, and the female trio (Katy Jacoby, Lauri Archuleta, Katie Luekens)--which plays urchins, neighbors, etc.--doo-wops campily, just like vocal groups used to.

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“Little Shop of Horrors,” Forum Theatre, 4175 Fairmont Blvd., Yorba Linda. 8 p.m. today and Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. Ends Sunday. $12-$14. (714) 779-1932 Running time: 2 hours. Tim Kashani: Seymour Krelbourn

Gretchen Weiss: Audrey

Mike Reynolds: Mr. Mushnik

Alex Lepera: Dr. Orin Scivello, D.D.S.

Katy Jacoby: Ronni

Lauri Archuleta: Cheri

Katie Luekens: Christy

Charles Coffey: Audrey II (voice)

Dan Rost: Audrey II (puppeteer)

Cherylrenee Rendes: Audrey II (puppeteer)

A Yorba Linda Civic Light Opera production of the Alan Menken-Howard Ashman musical, based on Roger Corman’s film, produced by Virginia DeLand. Directed by Tim Klega. Musical direction: Rob Blaney. Choreography: Joshua Eklund. Lighting design: Edward Huber. Costumes: Patrina Pfeifer. Stage manager: Colette Naffaa.